Ventilating device for beds



Nov., 30, 1954 L. TER MAAT 2,695,413

VENTILATING DEVICE FOR BEDS Filed April 8, 1952 2 Sheecs-Sheet l Nov. 30, 1954 L. TER MAAT 2,695,413

VENTILATING DEVICE FOR BEDS Filed April 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

o W I A TTDR/VE 7:

v a /ma United States Patent VENTILATING DEVICE FOR BEDS Lawrence Ter Maat, Pasadena, Calif.

Application April 8, 1952, Serial No. 281,067

2 Claims. (Cl. -319) This invention relates generally to the class of beds and is directed particularly to improvements in apparatus for use in association with a bed structure for improving the comfort of an occupant of the bed.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved bed attached apparatus for improving the comfort of an occupant of the bed by relieving such occupant of the weight of the bed clothing and by maintaining a circulation of air of controlled temperature beneath the bed clothes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilating apparatus for a bed, as hereinafter more particularly set forth, wherein air circulation is effected and main tained by convection and the heat of such currents maintained at a desired even temperature by thermostatic control.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above described character, which is adapted to be applied to any type of bed without having to alter in any manner the construction of the bed and which is also so designed that it may be easily and quickly adjusted so that the bed clothes supporting frames can be placed in an out-of-the-way position to facilitate changing the bedding or when the apparatus is not desired for use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a bed frame showing mounted in position on the side rails thereof, apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mattress, springs and bed clothing being represented in broken lines with the bed clothing supporting frames in operative position.

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the bed clothing supporting frames thrown back into inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the base frame and the bed clothing supporting frame which is hingedly attached thereto.

Figure 4 is a view in top clothing supporting frame.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken transversely of the structure substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of one side of the base frame and bed clothing supporting frame, showing details of construction, portions being broken away.

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the bed clothing supporting frame illustrating the air circulating paths therethrough and therefrom.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of a portion of one side of the base frame showing an alternative method of securing the latter to the bed frame.

Figure 9 illustrates the circuit diagram for the heat lamp, switch and control thermostat.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the

plan of the auxiliary bed ice numeral 10 generally designates a bed of conventional type, comprising the head and foot sections 12 and 14 respectively and the side rails 16 connecting the head and foot sections in the conventional manner.

Figure 8 illustrates at 18 a portion of a cross bar connecting the s1des of the root portion 14, the structure shown in this figure being hereinafter more fully described.

ln accordance with the present invention there 18 provided what will be delined as a base frame which 18 generally designated 20 and which comprises two spaced upright tubular posts 22 each of which is connected with a right angularly extending arm 24, at its lower end, which is designed to rest upon or be supported by a side rail 16 ot' the bed frame as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. For the purpose of maintaining the arms 24 in position there are provided right angle clamp brackets 26, one angle of which extends across the top of the rail 16 and 1s turned back as indicated at 26a to engage the inner side of the rail 16 as shown in Figure 0, while the other angle extends downwardly below the side of the rail 16 and carries an L-bolt 260 which engages the side of the rail 16 and secures the clamp bracket 26 in position.

Upon the top of the horizontal portion of the clamp bracket 26, which is the portion carrying the turned back edge 26a, is fixed, by welding or in any other suitable manner, an upwardly opening spring clip 26 in which the arm 24 is frictionally engaged.

in addition to the parts thus far described, the base frame also includes an arch portion generally designated 30 and comprising the horizontal rail 32 having the rearwardly and downwardly extending end terminal portions 32a and 32b, the latter portion curving into the upper end of a leg portion 34 which has telescopic engagement in the upper end of a tubular post 22 as shown most clearly in Figure 6.

A spring clamp 36 engaging about each leg 34 engages the top end of the ad acent post 22 to limit the downward movement of the leg 32 into the post 22 and by positioning this clamp 36 as desired, by sliding it up or down on the leg 34, the vertical ad ustment of the arch 30 can be regulated.

It will, of course, be understood that in referring to the base frame, such reference will include the arch frame 30 and the posts and arms 22 and 24.

The base frame 20 has pivotally or hingedly connected to the cross rail 32 of the arch, by means of spring hinge clips 38, the bed clothing supporting frame structure which is generally designated 40 and which is shown in perspective in Figure 7.

The frame structure 40 comprises a substantially U- shaped yoke 42 which includes a transverse portion 44 and the spaced parallel side arms 46,- each of which terminates in the right angle extensions 48. Each of these extensions comprises one portion of a two-part extensible post which is generally designated 50, the other part of such post comprising the right angular extension 52 of an air distributing tube 54 which is provided with a plurality of air discharge apertures 56. One of these tubes has its free end closed as indicated at 58, while the other end remains open for the attachment thereto of a flexible air conducting tube or hose 60 which is connected with and leads from an air heater, shown in Figures 1 and 2 and generally designated 62.

The portions 48 are slidably extended into the portions 52 of the posts and are adjustably held by set screws 64 and the top part 42 of the bed clothing frame is of tubular construction so that heated air entering by way of the tube will flow through the tube 54 to which the tube 60 is attached, up through the adjacent post 50 and around through the U-shaped structure 42 into the opposite post 50 and down into the opposite tube 54 for discharge through the apertures thereof.

Connecting between the portions 48 is a brace rod 66 and this rod is connected at its center portion with the center of the transverse part 44 of the structure 42, by the rod 68. These latter rods not only give rigidity to the structure but serve to prevent the bed clothing, which is shown in outline in Figures 1 and 2 and designated 70, from sagging through the supporting frame as will'be readily apparent.

As is readily apparent from Figures 3 and 5 the bed clothing supporting frame is of lesswidth than the base frame so that when ':t-he"c1othing supporting frarne is in -horizontal positionfor -use"-as "shoW-n-in Figure l the air ou'tlePtu-bes "54 *will rest .upon the zmattress-at and parallel-'Withthesides thereof -while-the top portlOl'r firz-Wlil -be elevatedyby the posts '50, 'tothe desired position above the -person 'occupying the=bed-so that the bed-c1ething 7flwill be maintainednin desired position to permit free circulation of air therebeneath.

The overall length of 1 the bed "clothing supporting frame structure iil may be-approximately-ha-lf the-length of thebed-or slightly less and wben-u-used alone itwill serveto-support the bed clothing from the lower part of the occupant of the bed.

-lf-it is desired -to support the bedclothingsentirely from the occupant, except a-round the neck, use maybe made -of the auxiliary bed clothing supporting frame shown: particularly an Eigure-4 and: generally designated 72. This-auxiliary framefLZ preferably is .of: rectangular form-and comprises the spaced parallel cross barsfM-and -the parallelside'zbars Z6 connecting the. ends. of. the cross bars, together-with arcentraln-brace bar :78 between the middle .porticnsaof tthe cross bars"/T4.

The-side bars 5'16 everlieltheisides 46othe top portion 42 of the main clothing supportingiframeand rest upon the SidGSiiiOfi lthe structureAlsothat .therauxiliary frame can be: slid rearwardly. .onzthestructure .42, .or. forwardly, -as..des1red.or'-;so thataittzmayn-bet entirely removed and placed; an an out-ofetheawayrpositionas illustrated. in F igure 2 When it is necessaryzor. desirable to place the structure in. athrovv-ntback position. For securing. the auxil- 1ary frarne .toz,

etframefilin the manner illustrated the frontbar 'l i'iofpthe tauxihary frarnehamsecured thereto,

. centrally of its; ends, -a. spring, clip: 88 which, is. engaged about-the centenbar. 6810f tthetrame 42.

=Pivota1lyaattachedto theiside ,bars '16. ofthe auxiliary frame-.72 byaasuitable aneansaas indicatedat 82, are

supporting legs 84 whichamaygbe secured in operative extendedtposition,bytheptwqfpartbrace arms 86 convnected;:bet-weeathe l0wer.-ends,of thelegs? 84 and the current for. .theheater.

Theccurrentasupply to the heater -is a1so.under the automatic" control; -of. a thermostat :unit 96 which may I bersuspendedi'beneath:the bed clothing from the arch'30 as shown in Figures. and2rand;as, indicated in broken linesin Figure-6.

No detailsbf construction havev been illustrated in connection-v'viththeswitchl box.92, the switch 94 and the thermostat control96 since .these are made up of standard electrical .units.and' form no .part ofthe present invention in themselves; but Figure 9 illustrates a simple circuit arrangement for'thesetunits.

The heating.unit,62..may rbenmounted in any suitable manner on the bedside-frame 16. as' i11ustrated or it may belocated in anyother. suitable position.

In Figures 1. andZIthe side arms,24 of the base frame have beenjshown' as secured in place by tWo clamp units 26' for, each arm. ln'Eigure 8; however, a modified construction is illustrated Where. one clamp. unit'26 is applied to a shortened arm 24:! and the post portion of the arm is bracedby" the curved ieg--98, one-end ofwh-ich is secured to a clamp 100 which is mounted on the adjacent post 22a while the other end of the leg 98 is secured to a clamp 102 which is mounted upon the bed cross rail 18 as illustrated.

In Figure 1 where the structure is shown in operative position the bed clothing-"supporting frame is shown as havingconnected therewith and extended .forwardly therefrom, the auxiliary frame 72, the latter being supported by the extended-legs ,84. Thus thebed clothing is supported above the entire body of the occupant of the bed. -As.:previouslystated;therauxiliaryirame can be shifted rearwardly so that the upper half of the bed clothing will hang *dOWIPfI'OllFl-hC-TIOIH end of the main frame 40, as indicated at a. The auxiliary frame is here illustrated in broken lines in its rearward position.

It will be seen from the foregoing that there is provided by the presentiinventiona novel :and very useful attachment to abedstructure-particularlywhere it -rnayabe desirable for'reasons'of healthorcomfort, either fortz healthy person or for-asick-person, -to-keep the weight of the bed clothes from-the body of the .occupant-of-the-bed and also to supply to theoccupant a circulating air movement of constant temperature.

I claim:

1. In a ventilating device for beds, a tubularbase frame having side portions of substantially L-form with the top ends of the vertical 1egs spacedly connected so that 'the 'frame may straddle the} foot-portion ofthe hed and the horizontal z legs -rnay extend rearwardly -'fr0m adjacentthe foot-'board along thetops of the'fside rails of 'the,-bed,-c1amp means for securing said horizontal legs to said side rails, a=-bed clothes-supportingframe-having side portions each comprising a lower substantially-L- shaped portionand;.an upper inverted substantially L- shaped portion, thevertical' legs of said lower; portions being telescopically engaged by-the :like;legs =of-said upper portions, means for adjust'ably securing-'the latter legs engaged, hinge means-between thetopends-oflthe vertical legs of the first-frame and'theanglesofbend of the upper portions ofthe..second-framefthe"loWerz-Portions of the latters side portions being formed oflengths of tubing and having the top side of one ofthe horizontal legs thereof apertured for the discharge-of air-therethrough, and an air .intakeztube-connectedwith the-free end of the said apertured leg.

'2. The device as defined in, claim 1, with aheater for the air, in the form of. a substantiallyconical casing adapted to be suspendedfromaside raib of the*=bed-a1id open at its upper and lower ends,-said intake tube':1eadingafromjthe upper end of; said: casing tothesaidapertured leg, and an electric"heating'element centered :wi-thin said casing to heat the air entering the lower, end-of the latter.

References Cited in the'file ofthis patent UNITEDE STATES; PATENTS Number Name Date "831,214 Carpenter Sept.*=18, --1906 1,670,658 .Garbutt .May'22,;-1928 2,106,834 'Ew ald. Feb. 1, 1938 2,183,533 Benedict Dec..19,' 1939 OREIGN; PATENTS "Number Country Date 383,676 Great Britain Nov.24,:l932 

